There's a great deal of hidden anger in this chapter, which is probably why it does not work.
'You aren't going to see your nephew 'til next summer,' he said to Uncle Vernon in mild indignation. 'Surely you're going to say goodbye?'
See, that's real anger- not the ranting and raving. but a very gentle, pointed question- 'Why?'It would have been incredibly moving if JKR went in that vein.
But then, the meanness of this world intrudes.
One bewildered second later, Harry realised that the foot-long thing was Dudley's tongue -- and that a brightly coloured toffee-wrapper lay on the floor beside him. (47)
Now, in a way, it is a continued comment on Dudley's greed- but on the other hand, was that Toffee offered to him? If it was, why poison him?
He doesn't need to be taken down a peg: he's already there.
But that is not this world! It's never enough to just humilate someone; you must crush their spirit completely destroyed them- and in allin the name of fun, or revenge. Look to what happened in PoA with Remus and Sirius- those were diminished bullies taken down so many pegs that were not even on the damn ladder. Yet, that was not enough for Snape.
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Date: 2005-09-08 05:53 am (UTC)'You aren't going to see your nephew 'til next summer,' he said to Uncle Vernon in mild indignation. 'Surely you're going to say goodbye?'
See, that's real anger- not the ranting and raving. but a very gentle, pointed question- 'Why?'It would have been incredibly moving if JKR went in that vein.
But then, the meanness of this world intrudes.
One bewildered second later, Harry realised that the foot-long thing was Dudley's tongue -- and that a brightly coloured toffee-wrapper lay on the floor beside him. (47)
Now, in a way, it is a continued comment on Dudley's greed- but on the other hand, was that Toffee offered to him? If it was, why poison him?
He doesn't need to be taken down a peg: he's already there.
But that is not this world! It's never enough to just humilate someone; you must crush their spirit completely destroyed them- and in allin the name of fun, or revenge. Look to what happened in PoA with Remus and Sirius- those were diminished bullies taken down so many pegs that were not even on the damn ladder. Yet, that was not enough for Snape.